Collapsible boat



Jan. 11, 1966 H 3,228,043

GOLLAPSIBLE BOAT Filed Nov. 23, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 11, 1966 A. M. HALL GOLLAPSIBLE BOAT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 23, 1964 lwml Jan. 11, 1966 A. M. HALL 3 ,228,043

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Filed Nov. 23, 1964. 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Office 3,2Z8fi43 Patented Jan. 11, 1966 3,228,043 COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Alexander Murray Hall, Gordon, New South Wales, Australia, assignor to David John Finlay, New South Wales, Australia, a British subject Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 413,116 Claims priority, application Australia, Nov. 26, 1963, 38,0?3/ 63 9 Claims. (Cl. 9-2) This invention relates to collapsible boats and more particularly to small craft such as dinghies, skiffs and the like.

For the convenience of transport of such small craft it has been proposed to provide them of a construction permitting collapsibility whereby they may be folded into a fiat unit for attachment to the roofs of motor vehicles. Such proposals, however, have not been completely successful due to the provision of detachable components requiring separate storage.

The principal object of this invention is to provide marine craft which may be collapsed for storage or stowage purposes which has a reduced number of separable components.

A further object is to provide craft of this kind which is relatively stable in use and of improved seaworthiness.

The invention, therefore, provides a collapsible boat comprising a bottom, opposite end walls hinged to the bottom to fold inwardly so as to overlie the bottom, opposite side walls, and means for hingeably attaching the side walls to the bottom for folding inwardly so as to overlie the end walls and the bottom, said attaching means including chine panels each extending substantially the length of the boat and joined by its longitudinal edges to the bottom and a respective side wall by waterproof hinging.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the craft is constructed as a dinghy and is illustrated as such in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the construction arranged in an erected condition;

FIG. 2 shows by similar perspective view the same craft in a collapsed condition;

FIG. 3 is a view looking towards the stern on the transverse sectional line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the erected craft as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the erected craft showing on an enlarged scale the connection of a chine panel to the hull bottom and one side;

FIG. 6 is a further view looking to the stern on the transverse sectional lines 66 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing part of the stern construction;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view in half horizontal section of the stern portion of the boat; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view along section lines 99 in FIG. 7.

With reference to the drawings it will be seen that the dinghy 7 has two snub ends 8 and 9 one of which, being the bow 8 is of narrower construction than the other. With this construction it has been found that a hull 10 of very good stability is obtained, but if desired the bow 8 may be pointed. The hull 10 consists of a slightly bowshaped bottom 11 of marine ply, fibreglass or similar material. A suitable keel-deadwood 12 or two keel-deadwoods, is, or are, secured to the underside 13 of the hull bottom 11.

The stern 9 of the hull 10 is provided by a trapezoidal shaped plywood panel 14 attached to a rectangular sheet 15 of Neolon material (Registered Trademark) the outer face 16 of which is fastened to the inner face or underside of the plywood panel 14. Preferably Neolon material, waterproof duck or similar material is used as the flexible material in this construction of the craft for hingeability between components. The apex 18 of the trapezoidal panel 14 is remote from the hull bottom 11 and a marginal edge of the cloth sheet 15 is extended beyond the base of the trapezoidal panel 14 and fastened in a watertight manner to the upperside of the rear end 19 of the bottom 11 by a round or flat metal or timber beading 20 as shown in FIG. 8. A similar construction is utilized for the snub how 3 of the craft 7.

A pair of opposite like side panels 21 are positioned to either side of the longitudinal edges 22 of the hull bottom 11 and each terminates at its outermost end in a suitably formed gunwhale 23. The inner, or lower, edge 24 of each side panel 21 is hingeably secured to respective longitudinal edges 22 of the bottom 11 by means of a chine panel 25 which is itself attached to a strip 26 of Birkmyres Cloth. Each chine panel 25 is composed of two confronting strips 27 and 28 of marine plywood secured together upon either face of the central portion of the cloth strip 26 (shown particularly by FIG. 5). The outer longitudinal edge portions 29 of the cloth strip 26 are secured respectively to the lower edge 24 of the side panel 21 and one edge 22 of the hull bottom 11 by means of timber battens 30. A narrow clearance 31 between each chine panel 25 and its associated side panel 21 and hull bottom 11 is provided so that with the chine panel 25 in an approximately normal condition to the bottom 11 each side panel 21 may be folded inwardly to overlie the bottom 11.

The side edges 32 and 33 of the flexible cloth sheet 15 provided at the how 8 and stern 9 of the craft 7 are secured to the inside face of the respective ends of the side panels 21 by beading 20A of the kind above described. Transom plates 3-1- also of marine ply which are approximately of rectangular shape are hinged by hinges 34A at their inner edge to the respective end of the hull bottom 11 to be capable of folding down upon the bottom 11. Corresponding holes 35 are formed in the transom plate 34 and the trapezoidal panels 14 at the both ends of the craft 7 through which a sprung metal U-clam-p 35A may be inserted to hold these two panels 34 and 14 together for strengtening reinforcement of the craft 7. Pins 3513 on the arms of the clamp 35A are intended for registration within the holes 35 as shown in FIG. 7.

The side edges 32 and 33 of the cloth sheet 15 at both the stern and bow of the craft 7 are attached in a Watertight fashion to the chine panels. The edge portions 32 and 33 are clamped between the two confronting strips 27 and 28 of plywood forming each chine panel 25. The side edge portions 32 and 33 will be in contact and will be preferably glued to the respective end of the cloth strips 26.

Collapsing of the craft 7 may thus be eifected by removing the end clamps 35A, folding down over the bottom 11 the hinged transom plates 34, then folding over these plates 34 the triangular end panels 14 and collapsing inwardly the side walls 21 of the craft 7 so that they in turn overlie the plates 34 and panels 14 and the hull bottom 11. The width of each chine panel 25 is thus arranged so that it approximates the depth of the stack formed by the plates 34, panels 14 and flexible cloth sheet 15 at either end of the craft 7. The craft in this condition is shown in FIG. 2.

So that the fully erected condition of the craft 7 may be maintained for service suitably formed gusset plates as are insertable within retaining cleats 37 positioned at an appropriate position inside the side walls 21, preferably with these gussets 36 approximately amidships and at either end of the craft 7. A seating plank 38 is seated upon the opposite sides of the central gusset plate 36a and has a medial supporting post 39 socketed within a recessed floor plank 40. At the two ends 8 and 9 of the craft 7 a seat or thwart 38 is supported upon the respective gusset plates 36 and abuts the inner surface of the transom plate 34. If desired suitable sockets (not shown) may be provided in each gunwale 23 for rowlocks (not shown) to provide for the use of oars (also not shown). The stern construction above described will be found to be sufficiently rugged to mount an outboard motor unit (not shown). If desired, corner latches 41 hinged to the transom plates 34 may be engaged in aperture 42 made in the gunwale or supported by brackets 43 on the gunwale for added rigidity at the corner of the boat.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment should be interpreted as illustrative and not restrictive as other forms of the construction will be apparent to one skilled in the art all of which fall within the scope of this invention. In one modification (not shown in the drawings) a separate fin and fin case assembly can be supplied to attach to the assembled boat by wing nuts and bolts for casual sailing, or by hinges and wing nuts and bolts for permanent sailing type boats. Furthermore, although for the purpose of optimum rigidity of the craft the gusset plates 36 should be incorporated, a light-weight craft suitably seaworthy under average marine conditions can be constructed with the omission of these plates 36. Some other support, such as chocks, may then be used for the seating 38.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible boat comprising a substantially flat bottom composed of a stiff panel of a width approximat ing the width of the erected boat, opposite end walls hinged to the bottom to fold inwardly so as to over-lie the bottom, opposite side walls, and means for hingeably attaching the side walls to the bottom for folding inwardly so as to over-lie the end walls and the bottom, said attaching means including chine panels each extending the length of the boat and joined by its longitudinal edges to the bottom and a respective side wall by waterproof hinging.

2. A collapsible boat according to claim 1, wherein the stern of the boat is a snub end and comprises an inflexible panel, and flexible means connecting the panel to the side walls in a waterproof fashion.

3. A collapsible boat according to claim 2, wherein said flexible means is a sheet of waterproof material attached between the opposite side walls and the bottom of the boat thus to serve as the hinging between the stern and the bottom of the boat, and means are provided for holding the panel to the waterproof sheet for rigidity of the stern.

4. A collapsible boat according to claim 3, wherein the inflexible panel is attached to the outer face of the flexible means, and there is also provided an inflexible transom plate hinged to the bottom of the boat adjacent the inner face of the flexible means.

5. A collapsible boat comprising a bottom, opposite end walls hinged to the bottom to fold inwardly so as to over-lie the bottom, opposite side walls, and means for hingeably attaching the side walls to the bottom for folding inwardly so as to over-lie the end walls and the bottom, said attaching means including chine panels each extending substantially the length of the boat and joined by its longitudinal edges to the bottom and a respective side wall by waterproof hinging, wherein each chine panel is a substantially inflexible strip, and the means for joining the chine panel to the bottom and side wall is a larger strip of flexible, waterproof sheet material, the chine panel being secured medially to the sheet strip with the longitudinal edges of the sheet strip secured in a watertight manner between the bottom and side wall of the boat.

6. A collapsible boat according to claim 5, wherein there are provided gusset plates detachably socketed within cleats supported on inner faces of the side walls and which in turn support seats or thwarts.

7. A collapsible boat according to claim 5, wherein there are provided corner latches engageable between the gunwale of an adjacent side and a transom plate in each corner of the boat.

8. A collapsible boat according to claim 5, wherein the stern of the boat is a snub end and comprises an inflexible panel, flexible means connects the panel to the side walls in a waterproof fashion, and wherein a hole is provided within an outer edge portion of both the inflexible panel and the transom plate and a clamp holds the panel and plate tog-ether.

9. A collapsible boat having a bottom, a pair of like, opposite side walls, and a pair of like opposite snub ends defining a bow and a stern, both the bow and stern comprising an approximately trapezoidal inflexible panel and an approximately rectangular transom plate, and a sheet of flexible waterproof material forming a layer between the panel and plate and protruding therefrom to be secured in watertight fashion to the bottom and the two side walls, two strips of flexible waterproof sheet material extending the length of the boat and each secured in a watertight fashion between the inner longitudinal edge of a respective side wall and a longitudinal edge of the bottom, a chine panel extending the length of the boat secured over a medial portion of each strip of sheet material to provide an articulated connection between each side wall and the bottom of the boat, the arrangement being such as to permit collapsing of the boat by folding the ends over the bottom and then folding the sides over both the ends and the bottom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,504,225 4/ 1950 Randrup 92 2,693,604 12/1954 Jefferson 92 2,830,308 4/ 1958 Green 92 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

D. P. NOON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE BOAT COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BOTTOM COMPOSED OF A STIFF PANEL OF A WIDTH APPROXIMATING THE WIDTH OF THE ERECTED BOAT, OPPOSITE END WALLS HINGED TO THE BOTTOM TO FOLD INWARDLY SO AS TO OVER-LIE THE BOTTOM, OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS, AND MEANS FOR HINGEABLY ATTACHING THE SIDE WALLS TO THE BOTTOM FOR FOLDING INWARDLY SO AS TO OVER-LIE THE END WALLS AND THE BOTTOM, SAID ATTACHING MEANS INCLUDING CHINE PANELS EACH EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF THE BOAT AND JOINED BY ITS LONGITUDINAL EDGES TO THE BOTTOM AND A RESPECTIVE SIDE WALL BY WATERPROOF HINGING. 